I have got my truck stuck maybe 3 or 4 times since Ive owned it over the past year and a half. The first time I put it in fourwheel drive (just like everyother time) and got out. I then noticed a hot "burning type" smell. This weekend it happened when I drove into a ditch and could not back out. My buddy thought the smell was from my tires spinning on the icy pavement. So, I thought no biggy. Until, once again I drove into 1.5' of snow in 2x4 (testing out the 33/12.5/17 Procomp MTs ) and got stuck. The rear tires just spun themselves to the frozen ground. Once again, that freakin hot smell??

Any ideas?? I recently had my front and rear differentials, tranny, and transfer case serviced

 

After You got stuck, did You engage the front axle & confirm that the frt. axle was pulling? If frt. axle was not pulling--the smell was probably from the planetery or shift collar & fork in the T/C burning-up.

The planetery serves as a differential (or compensator) in the T/C. When stuck and 4WD not engaged, the planetery will build-up excessive heat and sufficient lubrication will not be getting to the gears in the planetery and shift fork & collar on the mainshaft in the T/C. Good rule of thumb--when rear wheels are stuck --always engage front axle, or damage to T/C will occur (eventhough you may not realize it then).

Many times the burning you smelled will be the shift fork gaulding to the collar in this Borg Warner T/C. 1356 & 1345 model B/W are very good unit; however, I have seen some oil pick-up tube & oil pump failures over the years that I rebuilt & sold parts for light duty trucks.

 

Thanks for the reply...I assume the front was pulling due to the front wheels spun and I got out. Odd thing is, it does not seem to smell when using 4x on slippery roads and today I thought my 4 Lo did not work. When I got stuck, the 4lo light came on but only the rear tires turned. Come to find out, today it works. I just did not have my foot on the brake and fully engage the transfer case to 4Lo.

So you think this hot smell is normal with these units??

 

Hot smell not normal for these trucks!

 

mhussey,

Check your tranny fluid. Is it low? When you are stuck you should always use 4Lo. Using 4Hi can cause the tranny to build up a lot of heat. Just what did it smell like?

Regards

Jean Marc Chartier

 

It smells like a "hot burning smell" that i am not familiar with so I cant really describe it. It only smells when I am in 4HI and does not in 4Lo. The tranny level should be fine, I just had it serviced 2000 miles ago. The only place I can smell it when i get out of the truck (besides in the air) is if I stick my noise into the grill. Nothing behind or under the truck smells hot. Maybe it is my motor working hard, but that would be unusual. I have had the motor totally rebuilt, so I dont know what it is. I guess I just wont get stuck from now one (does not smell in 4HI while driving on roads). Until, I get enough cash to blow to have the dealer check it out. My Repair manual is coming this week, maybe that could help me out

 

This may be a no-brainer, but did you stop to consider that what you are smelling is mud [ or muddy water] baking on the exhaust system? I get that smell no matter what type of vehicle I 4wheel with. Its impossible to avoid. In fact, I love the smell of baking mud in the morning. It smells like...............freedom!

 

I just clued in. Does it smell like burning brakes? You have a 5 spd and what you might be smelling is the clutch burning. That would explain why you smell it when you are working the truck hard in 4Hi. I can fry the POS OEM clutch going up a sand dune in 4Hi.

JMC

 

Well, that may very well be it! But, I had that replaced with a new one like 2000 miles ago (when motor was rebuilt). I beleive they put another oem in it though cause the shop could not find an aftermarket clutch.

And yes, hot or burning brakes is what it smells like. So should I just use 4Lo whenever I need 4x off road??

Thanks for the help

 

Yes, that is what I do. 4Hi is for on road and 4Lo is for stucks and Off Road.
BTW Centerforce makes a 2 clutchs for your truck. http://www.centerforce.com/

JMC

 

I have a similar problem with my Expy. I use the AWD setting when the roads are iffy and I noticed that after getting off the highway that there was a very strong burning smell coming from my truck but no smoke or anything. If I'm just running around town at slower speeds it's not noticable. I think gearmanx17 may have pinpointed my problem with either the pickup tube or pump failure. I bought it with around 60k on it and changed all the fluids. The transfer case fluid was gawd awful. It was brown, not red. I just assumed it was running the original fluid. I guess now I need to take it somewhere and have it checked out? Gee, this sounds expensive for some reason.

Thanks for the info!